Diamond planet twice the size of Earth

PARIS – Scientists from Yale University said they have identified a "diamond planet" twice the size of the Earth and eight times its mass.

The planet, named 55 Cancri e, is one of five planets orbiting a sun-like star located 40 light years from Earth in the constellation of Cancer.

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“This is our first glimpse of a rocky world with a fundamentally different chemistry from Earth,” stated Nikku Madhusudhan, a Yale postdoctoral researcher in physics and astronomy. “The surface of this planet is likely covered in graphite and diamond rather than water and granite.”

Illustration of the interior of 55 Cancri e, an extremely hot planet
with a surface of mostly graphite surrounding a thick layer of diamond,
below which is a layer of silicon-based minerals and a molten iron core
at the center. (Source Yale University)

Researchers said they observed that the planet has no water at all and appears to be composed primarily of carbon (as graphite and diamond), iron, silicon carbide, and, possibly, some silicates. At least a third of the planet's mass — the equivalent of about three Earth masses — could be diamond, they noted.

“By contrast, Earth’s interior is rich in oxygen, but extremely poor in carbon — less than a part in thousand by mass,” commented co-author and Yale geophysicist Kanani Lee.

Scientists said the identification of a carbon-rich super-Earth proves that distant rocky planets can no longer be assumed to have chemical constituents, interiors, atmospheres, or biologies similar to those of Earth.

Star map showing the planet-hosting star 55 Cancri in the constellation of Cancer. The star is visible to the naked eye. (Image by Nikku Madhusudhan. Yale University)

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If our understanding of physics and the makeup of matter is correct, then we can already postulate what elements there can be. There are a few elements that have been created in particle accelerators to prove theories as is seen in the current table of elements, any additional ones will be heavier and possibly more radioactive. One might even be dilithium :-)

Isn't Yale home of the Skulls?
Those guys would never ruin the diamond market.
I bet on THAT planetary neighborhood, nobody thinks diamonds are valuable. The see our planet as having WATER...much more valuable...which we will understand sooner or later.

"Of course, if we could efficienty reach to 55 Cancri e, it would sure kill today's diamond industry!"
So would an end to the diamond monopoly. Diamonds are not particularly rare here on Earth, but their price is not set by the usual laws of supply & demand.

The planet should be considered a rough stone diamond planet and doesn't have as much value as the same planet set with rings. A diamond planet with rings could be considered a finished "set diamond planet" and would be of much higher value.

I remember "Bones" (Dr. McCoy) treating some kind of silicate-based life form's phasor wound with a plastic cement-like concoction he mixed up. The monster recovered and in return quit attacking the miners and instead bored tunnels for them (think they were mining dilithium for their warp drives?).
Interesting to think of what strange life forms may exist on these worlds. Equally interesting is pondering what kind of yet-unknown elements may exist out there. If the known universe was created as described in the big-bang theory, one might deduce that their are not very many unknown elements left to be discovered. Or is that arrogant and narrow minded thinking?

A good finding.The engineers are brainy and experienced to arrive at these results. Next step will be to find out methods to confirm their assessments by performing suitable experiments.Then send space ships with robots to bring the diamond to the earth.Ultimately this will make this research use full.